Top 10 Fall Fly Fishing Trips
From Bay Stripers to Sierra Browns: Your Guide to California’s Best Fall Fly Fishing
Fall offers some of the best fly fishing of the year. Steelhead and salmon pour into rivers, brown trout stage for their spawn, stripers begin migrating back into the Delta, and the water levels start to drop to perfect fishing flows. The leaves change color, and the choices can feel endless — so where do you start?
Below is a list of our favorite California fall fly-fishing destinations. If we went beyond state lines, this list might never end. So, without further delay, here are Lost Coast Outfitters’ Top 10 Fall Fishing Trips — starting close to home and working our way out.
World Series Bite in the Bay
We might sound like a broken record, but the Bay is San Francisco’s closest — and most badass — fishery. The best part: you can fish before or after work, or sneak in a sunrise mission and be home before the family’s finished breakfast.
Hit China Camp, Corte Madera Creek, Richardson Bay, Paradise Beach, and Angel Island in the next month and a half for some incredible action.
Book A Guide in the Surf | Join a Surf Clinic | Flies for Fly Fishing The Surf
Fly Fishing for Stripers in The San Francisco Bay
Putah Creek
A local favorite for Bay Area anglers, Putah Creek runs high through summer as it feeds the Valley’s orchards. While it’s fishable, it’s far from ideal until flows drop — usually around mid-October.
These fish have PhDs in flies and drifts, so don’t be shy about hiring a guide to shorten your learning curve.
Book A Guide On Putah Creek | Putah Creek Fly Fishing Report
Fly Fishing Putah Creek
Primetime in the Delta
The California Delta offers some of the best opportunities to target big stripers anywhere in the state. The biggest challenge this time of year? Finding a great captain who can put you on fish.
If you haven’t fished the Delta in the fall, you’re missing out on a world-class experience.
Egg Drop on the Lower Sac
The Lower Sacramento River goes from good to great to phenomenal in the fall. Salmon move upriver to spawn, and trout and steelhead key in on drifting eggs.
It’s a drift-boat fishery that requires minimal casting — perfect for introducing newcomers to fly fishing. Just know that guides book up fast when it’s firing.
Book A Guide On Lower Sac | Lower Sacramento Fly Fishing Report
Fly Fishing the Lower Sacramento River
Steelhead on the Dry: Trinity, Klamath, Rogue
Steelhead season kicks into gear in September and October — and few anglers know the magic of skating dries for them. Early morning and evening sessions are best, especially when the sun is low or the canyon is shaded.
Favorite rivers include the Trinity, Klamath, and Rogue.
Fly Fishing The Klamath River
October Caddis Hatch
With October comes one of the most iconic hatches of the year: the October Caddis. You’ll find it lighting up the McCloud, Upper Sac, Pit, and North Fork Yuba.
It’s the proverbial “last supper” before cooling water slows trout metabolism — and one of the most exciting dry-fly opportunities of the season.
How to Fish an October Caddis Dry Fly
Downtown Browntown
Brown trout are fall spawners, and many start staging now. While you should never target fish on redds, knowing where and when they move can put you in prime water.
Lake-resident browns often migrate up tributaries to spawn — look to the McCloud, Upper Sac, Pit, Hat Creek, Stanislaus, American, Rubicon, Truckee, and Eastern Sierra for your shot.
The Lakes
Of course, there’s the Pyramid Lake opener on October 1st, where you might connect with a 20-plus-pound Lahontan cutthroat.
For something quieter, Davis and Frenchman Lakes both offer late-season action for chunky rainbows eager to fatten up before winter.
Fly Fishing Pyramid Lake
Eastern Sierra Bliss
Fall colors erupt across the Eastern Sierra, framed by dramatic peaks and crisp alpine air. From Bridgeport to Lone Pine, you’ll find hungry browns and rainbows feeding aggressively before winter — and scenery that rivals any fishing trip on Earth.
It’s a photographer’s dream and an angler’s reward rolled into one.
The Truth of the Matter
Just about everywhere in California fishes great in the fall. Whether you’re chasing stripers in the Bay, steelhead on the Trinity, or browns in the Sierra, this is the season that reminds us why we fish — crisp mornings, changing colors, and wild fish feeding hard before winter.
And there’s no better place to start your fall adventure than Lost Coast Outfitters. Our crew lives and breathes California fly fishing — from keeping tabs on river conditions to helping you dial in gear, flies, and local intel you won’t find anywhere else. Stop by the shop to talk through where it’s fishing best, stock up on the right flies, and maybe even book a guide to help you make the most of the season.
Whether you’re a weekend warrior, first-timer, or seasoned trout bum, we’ll make sure you’re ready to fish smart, fish local, and make this fall one to remember.
Visit Lost Coast Outfitters — your fall fly fishing season starts here.
